Santa Cruz Theatre Community

Jana Marcus, Pisces Moon Photographer, Publishes Book

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Photographer Jana Marcus and her new book, Transfigurations, are the subjects of the September 22, 2011 Good Times cover story. The book is based on Jana's photography exhibit of the same name, which has been shown all over the country since 2005.

"The 55-piece exhibit, of large black and white images with text," says Ms. Marcus, "explores what it means to be a man and a woman, by people who have transitioned to the opposite sex, which blurs the lines of gender separation, stereotyping, and ultimately discovering cultural influences."

With the help of funding from KickStarter.com and generous supporters, Jana transformed her exhibit into a book, which she will be signing during speaking engagements on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Capitola Book Café, 1475 41st Ave., Capitola, (831) 462-4415, and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, (831) 423-0900.

Ms. Marcus photographed 13 of Pisces Moon's productions: Durang, Durang, The Food Chain, Durang, Durang: The Second Coming, The Altruists, Five Flights, Never the Sinner, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, Swimming in the Shallows, Dead Man Walking, and each of the three iterations of The Laramie Project.

Transfigurations can be ordered through 7 Angels Press or purchased locally at Capitola Book Cafe or Bookshop Santa Cruz. Learn more about Jana Marcus and her work at JanaMarcus.com.

Kristen Vaughan Wins Best Actress IT Award

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:01:00 +0000

Kristen Vaughan, pictured with fellow lead actor winner Nick Paglino (left) and presenter actor John Glover (right), won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation's IT Awards, which honor excellence in Off-Off-Broadway Theatre. Mr. Glover presented Ms. Vaughan with her award at a ceremony held on September 19, 2011 at Cooper Union's Great Hall.

Kristen was honored for her portrayal of Jane in Retro Production's Benefactors, written by Michael Frayn.

"They say Off-Off-Broadway is a labor of love, and my God, feel the love in this room," said Ms. Vaughan to the crowd, who jumped to their feet in applause when her name was announced.

Kristen acted in Pisces Moon's 2003 version of The Laramie Project before she followed her career to the New York stage. In prior productions with Pisces Moon, Ms. Vaughan played Amanda in The Food Chain in 2000 and Sydney in The Altruists in 2002. She assayed several characters in 2002's The Laramie Project, and played Olivia in Adam Bock's Five Flights in 2003.

For more information, read this review of Benefactors and this article about the awards ceremony.

Briana Michaud Shines in Cabrillo Stage's "Cabaret"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:49:00 +0000

Briana Michaud, who played multiple Roles in Pisces Moon's The Exonerated, is starring as Sally Bowles in Cabrillo Stage's musical, Cabaret.

Jenna Brogan of the Good Times Weekly wrote: "Twenty-five-year-old Aptos High School graduate Briana Michaud steals the show here as Kit Kat Klub femme fatale Sally Bowles. During the play’s first half, when Michaud’s Sally breaks into song with the sinful “Don’t Tell Mama”—and later “Mein Herr”—the actress does more than charm the audience. She keeps us invested in the story and its characters all the way to the end." Click here for the rest of the article.

Santa Cruz Sentinel theatre critic Katie Hughes McKee praised her performance in its July 29 review, which can be found here, calling Briana "the complete package: actor, singer, dancer, gorgeous."

Cabaret plays July 23 - August 15 at Cabrillo College's dazzling new Crocker Theater. For more information and tickets, please go here.

Kristen Vaughan Lauded as Zelda Fitzgerald in Tennessee Williams play

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Kristen Vaughan's portrayal of Zelda Fitzgerald in "Clothes for a Summer Hotel" has once again earned her high praise in the New York theatre community. She "clearly conveys Zelda's blighted passions, both literary and amorous" (Back Stage). Kristen delivers a "stellar performance as Zelda, one that is both heartbreakingly innocent and clear-eyed . . . she sometimes looks remarkably like the real Zelda" (New York Press).

Her pairing with Montgomery Sutton as her lover Edouard (pictured above) is particularly noted in several reviews.

From TheHappiestMedium.com:
"The constant rock of believability as surreal character and broken woman was Vaughan. She brought a foundation of truth within the ethereal planes that was the perfect combination to both believe and get lost in. The chemistry between Vaughan and Sutton really worked, and Sutton brings a warmth and tenderness to his character that gives it other dimensions. Through their scenes we learn more about how deeply this affair touched Zelda, how Sutton’s stance of keeping it an affair by the book effected her mental health, and they were deeply moving."

From BroadwayWorld.com:
"Kristen Vaughan as Zelda Fitzgerald comes the closest to embodying the inherent style of Tennessee Williams' writing. In the spirit of Blanche or Amanda, she finds humor and charm in Zelda and then beautifully couples it with a profound sadness. In "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the character of Daisy, based on Zelda, as having a 'voice full of money.' This quality is palpable in Ms. Vaughan's performance. She is particularly good when she is coupled with Montgomery Sutton as her lover Edouard."

For more information about "Clothes for a Summer Hotel", please go to the White Horse Theater Company website.

Kristen Vaughan plays Zelda Fitzgerald in New York Play

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:02:00 +0000

Kristen Vaughan, whose memorable plays with Pisces Moon included The Altruists, The Laramie Project, The Food Chain and Five Flights, will perform the leading role of Zelda Fitzgerald in Tennessee Williams' Clothes for a Summer Hotel.

Featured in the New York Times, and produced by White Horse Theater Company, the play will perform beginning Feb. 5 at the Hudson Guild Theater and run through Feb. 21. The Feb. 14 show will be followed by a discussion with Nancy Milford, author of the biography “Zelda.”

Tickets are available through SmartTix.

"Dead Man Walking" Actors in "The Story of Rachel Corrie"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Marc Nicholson, who played the leading role of Matt Poncelet in Pisces Moon's Dead Man Walking, has been cast as an international solidarity worker in a dramatic reading of The Story of Rachel Corrie, performing at Actors' Theatre on May 31 at 2 pm and 8 pm. April Bennett (pictured below), also from Dead Man Walking, has the title role in this contemplative drama of a young woman whose courage and sense of justice led to her death in the Gaza Strip. Based on her correspondence with family and fellow solidarity workers, The Story of Rachel Corrie is produced by the Santa Cruz Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom as the third in their series: “In Celebration of Courageous Women”. Brian Heath directs, Suzanne Schrag plays Rachel's mother and Nabil Ghachem is an Israeli soldier. For tickets and more information, please visit the WILPF website calendar and scroll down to May 31, or call Roz at 459-8078.

Rave Reviews for Kristen Vaughan in New York

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:10:00 +0000

Critics are raving about Kristen Vaughan's portrayal of "Sunny" in Retro Productions' Mill Fire, playing through May 24 at the Spoon Theater, 38 West 38th Street in New York City. Backstage wrote: "Vaughan's Sunny is particularly strong (and most convincingly Southern) as she alternates between tipsy anger and pleading wifeliness". NewYorkTheatre.com praised her "standout performance" among a "solid cast". Pictured at right in a scene from the play, Kristen graced Pisces Moon stages in The Food Chain, The Altruists, The Laramie Project (2002 & 2003) and Five Flights.

"Dead Man Walking" Cast Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:07:00 +0000

Casting is complete for the play Dead Man Walking, produced by Pisces Moon Productions Inc and Cabrillo College Theatre Arts, in association with Delta High School and the Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project. The complete cast list can be found here.

Written by Tim Robbins and based on Sister Helen Prejean's book of the same name, Dead Man Walking will perform at the Cabrillo College Theater, Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos. It opens February 8, 2008 and runs until February 24: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Please click here for more information.

Tickets on Sale for "The Exonerated"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:50:00 +0000

Pisces Moon Productions presents The Exonerated, the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. This riveting play opens Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m. at the Broadway Playhouse at the Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway in Santa Cruz. Tickets are available online or through SmartTix by calling toll-free at 1-877-238-5596.

Lisa Hadley Shines in “It Had To Be You”

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:04:00 +0000

Lisa Hadley, who played Reggie Fluty and a host of other characters in Pisces Moon’s 2003 reprise of The Laramie Project, is starring in It Had To Be You at Actors’ Theatre through April 15. Lisa is pictured above right with co-star Richard Saldavia. Santa Cruz Sentinel theatre reviewer Ann Bennett called Lisa “a passionately engaging actress” and the show “one of the funniest shows in recent memory”. Read the full review, on page 9 of the April 5, 2007 issue of the Guide.

Pisces Moon in "Good Times" Cover Story

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:05:00 +0000

The Good Times Weekly featured Pisces Moon Productions in the cover story of its March 15-21 issue.

The cover, pictured at right, was designed by Good Times Art Director Joshua Becker, and features Steve DiBartolomeo's photographs of the cast of The Exonerated, Pisces Moon's upcoming play, which opens April 27.

Good Times Feature Editor, Christa Martin, wrote the article as a diary of how she "immersed" herself "in all things Pisces Moon for two weeks." Read the full article.

Rydell Visual Arts Fund of the Community Foundation Supports Pisces Moon's "The Exonerated"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 06:15:00 +0000

The Rydell Visual Arts Fund of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County has awarded Pisces Moon Productions with a grant to support the visual arts design and construction components of The Exonerated, running April 27 through May 26 at the Broadway Playhouse in the Santa Cruz Art League. “The arts are an integral part of our community,” said Foundation Executive Director Lance Linares, “and no one cared more about the arts than Roy and Frances Rydell.”

In total, eight grants were awarded to local arts organizations, including Cabrillo Stage and Tandy Beal's Friends of Olympia Station, members of the Santa Cruz theatre community.

The Rydell Visual Arts Fund and the Community Foundation help our theatre community to thrive. We appreciate their support, and ask you to help them to help the arts in Santa Cruz. Please visit their web site for more information about how to donate .

Cast Announced for "The Exonerated"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:30:00 +0000

The Exonerated, produced by Pisces Moon and opening April 27, has been cast as follows:

Becky Armor - Sue, Sandra, Lawyer
Gregory T. Banks - Understudy for Delbert
Nathan Caracter - Robert
Chad Davies - Male Ensemble 1
Jeff Dinnell - Male Ensemble 2
Roger McCune - Gary
Briana N. Michaud - Georgia, Judge, Darla, State Prosecutor
JJ Porter - Delbert
Michelle Shulman - Sunny
Yahel Townsend - David
Aaron Walker - Kerry

Pisces Moon Young Company's "And Then They Came for Me" in the News

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:55:00 +0000

Wallace Baine previewed And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank in "Anne Frank's Other Story" a cover story in the February 23 issue of The Guide, the Santa Cruz Sentinel's art and entertainment section. Read the full article.

The article refers to the photo, "Behind Her Back" by Linda J. Hirsch. The photo, which she took while on a trip to the Netherlands in 1984, is pictured on the left. The statue of Anne Frank, in a small square in Utrecht, was defaced by Neo-Nazis, who spray-painted a red swastika on the base.

And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank continues to play at the Broadway Playhouse until March 10. Performance dates, show times and tickets.

"Once Upon A Mattress" Opens at San Lorenzo Valley High School

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:04:00 +0000

Once Upon a Mattress, directed by Daria Troxell, performs three weekends, February 23 through March 10, at SLVHS Performing Arts Center. For more information, call (831) 335-4425, ext. 25.

KUSP Interviews "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:46:00 +0000

Daria Troxell, host of KUSP's Life Under the Lights interviewed Pisces Moon Young Company’s director Luanne Nunes de Char and actor Jade Gregg of And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank on Friday's Talk of the Bay. Listen.

The Real Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:33:00 +0000

Red & Black Stage presents The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, directed by and starring Daniel Hughes, from February 23 through March 24 at Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre.

Local Actor in New York Show

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:56:00 +0000

Kristen Vaughan, who has acted in many Santa Cruz plays, including Pisces Moon Productions’ The Altruists, Five Flights and The Laramie Project, is now starring in Still Life at the 78th Street Theatre Lab in Manhattan. Performances are from February 16 through March 3, 2007. Kristen’s work in June 2006 with this company earned her rave reviews from the New York Times and Backstage. Tickets and more information.

Auditions Notice: The Exonerated

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:39:00 +0000

Pisces Moon Productions announces auditions for their upcoming production of The Exonerated. Culled from interviews, letters, transcripts, case files and the public record, The Exonerated tells the true stories of six wrongfully convicted survivors of death row in their own words. Auditions will be held February 10th, 11th and 12th, 2007 in Santa Cruz. Read the audition details.

Maria Crush Wins Gail Rich Award

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:07:00 +0000

Maria Crush, who has done costumes for Pisces Moon Production’s Never the Sinner, Pisces Moon Young Company’s To Kill A Mockingbird and is currently working on And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, was recently honored with a Gail Rich Award for her contributions to local theatre. The awards, which the Santa Cruz Sentinel has given each year since 1996 as a way of recognizing the people of our cultural community, are named after Gail Rich, a strong proponent of the arts who died suddenly that fall. Read more about Maria and the Gail Rich Awards. Photo by Shmuel Thaler.

Fun Institute's Upcoming Events

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 05:27:00 +0000

NEW SPOTLIFE SESSION FORMING: For those of you who've always wanted to work solo,or want to try it again, our Winter Series has just been booked for Saturday afternoons 1:30 - 4:00 running January 13 through March 3. That's right, you could be performing your original 10-minute solo piece by March 3rd, 2007. What a way to start off the year! Go to funinstitue.com for more details.
SPOTLIFE PERFORMANCE: Dec. 2, at 2pm @ Broadway Playhouse. Come see 7 fabulous performers debuting their original Solo pieces. The Playhouse is located at 526 Broadway. $5 at the doorgets you in! Mark your calendars! You're not going to want to miss this.
LOOSE CANNON: Dec. 9th also @ the Broadway Playhouse. Join the wild wacky group as they attempt to make sense of this holiday season. The hilarious show is entitled Pack Light for Nirvana: A Parenthetical Pause on the Journey of Life. Tickets are $10, call 427-4008

Auditions for Anne Frank

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:49:00 +0000

Pisces Moon Young Company, a company for actors aged 14 - 22 is pleased to announce AUDITIONS for and then they came for me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, by James Still, directed by Luanne Nunes deChar. Run dates are February 23 - March 10, 2007

Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an audition you must contact Pisces Moon Young Company prior to November 11th, 2006. Click here for full information on how to apply

To be notified by email of any Pisces Moon auditions or events, please join the email list

"Da Kink In My Hair"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:06:00 +0000

Jared Grayson, who recently starred as Judas Iscariot in Pisces Moon Productions' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, has co-directed a play with Sherrice Kelly for Rainbow Theatre: Da Kink In My Hair by Trey Anthony. It's playing for a limited run with Peeling the Banana as part of a festival of student-directed works at Stevenson College in November.

To say that Da Kink In My Hair is a multi-faceted play would be an understatement. It has so many different themes and stories. Novelette, a hairdresser, has an uncanny ability to draw out her customers' inner stories, however uncomfortable they may be to speak about in public. Though her customers are very outspoken and believe that they know each other quite well, what Novelette is able to unlock by just touching their hair shocks, surprises, and enlightens even the closest people around them. The women of Da Kink In My Hair will make you laugh, cry and stay with you long after you've left the theater.

Da Kink In My Hair and Peeling The Banana
November 3 & 5 at the Stevenson College Center, UCSC, at 8pm
November 11 at Santa Cruz High School at 8pm

The cost is $6 with Student I.D. and General Admission is $8
For questions or more information please contact:
rainbowtheatre@gmail.com

Red and Black Stage: Upcoming show

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:37:00 +0000

Red and Black Stage presents:
The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
February 23rd - March 24th, at the Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre.

About the Play: The Real Thing is a uniquely funny comedy about not-so-funny things from the Oscar-winning writer of Shakespeare in Love. The story revolves around a successful playwright, his lover, his ex-wife, an old friend, and an overzealous political activist. The play explores the many facets of love and marriage, radical politics, and the integrity of art while asking the age old question,"Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?"
About the cast: "It's official as of the 14th, the cast includes April Bennett, John Joseph Burke, Trevor Hofvendahl, Daniel D. Hughes, Steven Macramalla, Aimée Shunney, and Judith Wellner"

Reviews of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot"

noreply@blogger.com (Pisces Moon Productions) — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:43:00 +0000

"A spectacular extravaganza of theatre that will give you something to talk about over dinner for quite a while. . . It's a parable of love and forgiveness, all dolled up in extraordinarily clever sequences that range from hilariously funny to outragesously ridiculous to thoughtfully poignant . . . great script by a contemporary playwright . . . outstanding visual experiences . . . directed with splendid timing and control . . . it soars and dips like a rollercoaster" Read more . . . - Ann Bennett, The Santa Cruz Sentinel

"Conversations about Judas Iscariot and forgiveness ignite the Pisces Moon stage." Read more . . . - Christa Martin (Review), The Good Times Weekly

"moments by Beckett, dialogue by Mamet and street talk by Spike Lee" Read more . . . - Bruce Bratton, BrattonOnline

More reviews

A Pisces Moon Production. Directed by Susan Myer Silton. Playing at the Broadway Playhouse in Santa Cruz through Saturday, October 28th, 2006. Tickets available online or by calling toll free 877-238-5596.